Ellis Lucia/The Times-PicayuneA memorial to Archie Reed was erected in the back yard between two duplexes at 567 and 573 Beechwood Drive in Slidell.

Ellis Lucia/The Times-Picayune

A man already suspected of dealing marijuana has been arrested by Slidell police on suspicion of shooting a man to death last week in a dispute over drugs, Police Chief Freddy Drennan said Monday.

Zachariah D. Johnson, 26, is accused of shooting Archie J. Reed during a dice game Wednesday, in Slidell's second homicide of the year.

Reed was gambling with two other men in the alley between two homes in the 500 block of Beechwood Drive about 8:10 p.m. when Johnson, who lives less than a block away, came around the corner of one house, Drennan said.

Johnson was wearing a bandanna over his face to conceal his identity, and began firing at the group immediately, Drennan said. Reed and another man fled, while the third man fell to the ground and played dead, Drennan said.

Reed, who was hit, managed to walk about 15 feet to the edge of some woods, where he eventually collapsed and died, Drennan said.

Five shots were fired and two hit Reed, Drennan said. The other two men were unharmed, he said.

Investigators believe Johnson was targeting Reed but had intended to kill the other men as well, possibly to eliminate witnesses, Drennan said at a news conference Monday in Slidell.

Reed and Johnson "had past narcotics dealings. There were problems between the two and that's what led to the shooting, " Drennan said.

He said he would not divulge the nature of the dealings between the two men, because of the ongoing investigation.

Police were called to the scene by multiple 911 calls reporting the shots and found Reed dead.

Ellis Lucia/The Times-Picayune'He rounded the corner shooting,' Slidell Police Chief Freddy Drennan said at the news conference. 'It was obvious that it was not a robbery.'

Investigators quickly ruled out robbery as a motive, Drennan said. Reed had $45 in his hand and $300 more in a pocket when officers arrived, and police found no evidence that the shooter demanded money, Drennan said.

"He rounded the corner shooting, " he said. "It was obvious that it was not a robbery."

Johnson was picked up on outstanding warrants for distribution of marijuana and being a principal to the distribution of marijuana Thursday evening, Drennan said. He remains in custody while police built their case so that he cannot flee, he said.

Johnson, of 536 Beechwood Drive, was booked into the St. Tammany Parish jail in Covington with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and the two drug warrants Monday afternoon.

Zachariah D. Johnson

Johnson has not been cooperating with investigators, Drennan said.

With Johnson's arrest, police believe they have wrapped up the case, Drennan said.

"We're very confident he acted alone, " he said.

Thursday morning, police said they had few leads on a suspect or motive for the shooting. However, investigators began to piece together the details of the murder by late in the day and had identified Johnson as their suspect.

"Our whole investigative division came out, " quickly building a case, said Capt. Kevin Swann, head of the department's Investigative Division.

Slidell's first homicide occurred in May, when Raymond Deckelman, 37, allegedly stabbed his neighbor, Kenneth Beeson, during an argument. Deckelman turned himself in to police the next day.

. . . . . . .

Jeff Adelson can be reached at jadelson@timespicayune.com or 985.645.2852.